The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) recently partnered with Nextdoor, a private social-networking platform for neighborhoods that fuses the comfort of neighborly camaraderie with modern-day technology.

Nextdoor.com allows neighbors to communicate with one another within the privacy of their own virtual neighborhood. Neighbors using the program can exchange local advice and recommendations, share important community information or notify area residents about local safety issues, local events, school activities, lost pets and garage sales.

Now, with its partnership with the SDPD, Nextdoor neighbors will have access to an official voice, thanks to the police department’s launch of nine division pages, where important information, such as crime updates and public safety tips, will be posted.

“In this day and age, it is vital for neighbors to come together and look out for another. Nextdoor makes it easy for neighbors to establish virtual neighborhood watch and help combat crime,” said Officer Edward Zwibel, SDPD’s community relations coordinator. “Nextdoor will help create a stronger and safer community that we call home.”

Safety measures, like screening new members through the Megan’s Law website and verifying that users live within the neighborhood should add to users’ comfort in sharing information with one another. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by those outside the neighborhood or on search engines. Even the police will not be able to access the residents’ websites, contact information or content.

More than 160 San Diego neighborhoods are currently using Nextdoor, including those in La Jolla, Bird Rock, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, Point Loma and Ocean Beach. To join the Nextdoor website in your neighborhood, visit www.nextdoor.com to sign up.